House passes Seminole gambling package

The House passed its two-bill gambling package by solid margins, with a coalition of a few dozen conservatives (mostly Republicans) voting ?no.?

The House Seminole compact bill passed, 84-27. It would require the Seminoles to shut down blackjack games at its resort casinos, but give the tribe the exclusive statewide rights (outside Broward and Dade) to Vegas-style slots.

The second portion, dealing with the pari-mutuel industry, passed by a slightly smaller margin, 83-33. That bill would let pari-mutuel facilities (dog tracks, jai alai frontons, etc.) expand poker room operations with around-the-clock hours and higher betting limits. South Florida facilities with voter approved slots would get a lower tax rate. And it would give a boost to tracks that hold quarter horse permits like Gulfstream in Hallandale Beach.

Next up: negotiations with the Senate, which has a far more expansive vision of gambling that calls for full casinos on Seminole resorts and slots-like machines statewide.